Technical SEO is a specialized discipline that bridges the gap between web development and search engine visibility. As the web becomes increasingly complex—powered by JavaScript frameworks, dynamic content, and intricate architectures—traditional SEO approaches fall short. This is where OhMyCrawl steps in, offering a unique, technically grounded approach to solving some of the most challenging SEO problems on modern websites and web applications.
OhMyCrawl, founded by Scott Gary, is a technical SEO company that focuses on the infrastructure and architecture of websites, especially those built with JavaScript. The company distinguishes itself by combining deep technical knowledge with a results-driven approach to SEO. Unlike many SEO agencies that focus on content, links, or surface-level optimizations, OhMyCrawl dives into the code, rendering strategies, server-side configurations, and crawling challenges that often go unnoticed by less technical practitioners.
This guide will explore the technical SEO services offered by OhMyCrawl, the methodology behind their audits, and how they address specific challenges in the modern web landscape. We will also compare OhMyCrawl’s services with general SEO practices and discuss the unique value proposition that makes them a go-to for developers and technical teams.
The OhMyCrawl Approach to Technical SEO
OhMyCrawl’s technical SEO services are built on the premise that search engines interact with websites in specific ways, and that optimizing for those interactions requires a deep understanding of how web technologies function. This includes everything from HTML and JavaScript to server-side rendering and dynamic content loading.
Core Services and Capabilities
OhMyCrawl provides a range of services tailored to address the unique challenges of modern web applications. These include:
- JavaScript SEO Audits: Analyzing how JavaScript-rendered content is indexed and crawled by search engines.
- Crawling and Indexing Optimization: Ensuring that search engine bots can efficiently navigate and index a site’s content.
- Site Architecture Refinement: Improving the structure of a website to enhance crawlability and user experience.
- Server-Side Rendering (SSR) and Pre-Rendering: Helping developers implement rendering strategies that are more SEO-friendly.
- Performance Optimization: Improving load times and overall site performance to indirectly boost SEO rankings.
- On-Page SEO Recommendations: Providing granular, page-level SEO suggestions to complement technical optimizations.
These services are particularly valuable for companies using JavaScript-heavy frameworks such as React, Vue, or Angular, where content may not be rendered in a way that search engines can easily access.
The Audit Process
OhMyCrawl’s audit process is designed to uncover technical SEO issues that are often overlooked or misunderstood by less experienced SEO professionals. Here’s a high-level overview of their approach:
- Initial Consultation: A call is arranged to understand the client’s specific technical SEO challenges and goals.
- Technical Audit: A comprehensive review of the website’s architecture, rendering strategies, and performance.
- Recommendations and Strategy Development: A custom SEO strategy is created, focusing on actionable, data-driven improvements.
- Implementation Support: OhMyCrawl works with developers to implement the recommended changes, ensuring that technical SEO optimizations are properly integrated into the website’s codebase.
- Testing and Validation: Changes are tested using real-world data and A/B testing to ensure they deliver the expected results.
This process is iterative and often requires multiple rounds of collaboration with developers to achieve optimal results.
Technical SEO Challenges and How OhMyCrawl Addresses Them
Modern websites face a number of technical SEO challenges that can significantly impact their visibility in search results. Let’s explore some of these challenges and how OhMyCrawl tackles them.
1. JavaScript Rendering Issues
One of the most common technical SEO challenges is ensuring that JavaScript-rendered content is properly indexed. Search engines like Googlebot use crawlers that may not execute JavaScript in the same way a browser does, which can lead to important content being missed or indexed incorrectly.
How OhMyCrawl Helps: - Conducts JavaScript rendering audits to identify issues such as missing metadata, delayed content loading, or improperly structured HTML. - Recommends server-side rendering (SSR) or static site generation (SSG) strategies to ensure content is available to crawlers at render time. - Works with developers to implement pre-rendering solutions for dynamic content.
2. Crawling and Indexing Problems
Even if a website’s content is properly rendered, crawling and indexing issues can still occur. These issues may include:
- Duplicate content due to URL parameters or session IDs.
- Missing or inconsistent meta tags.
- Slow rendering times that prevent crawlers from completing the page load.
How OhMyCrawl Helps: - Uses advanced tools to map out the site’s crawlable structure and identify bottlenecks. - Recommends structured data and schema markup to help search engines understand the content better. - Provides guidance on robots.txt and sitemap.xml best practices to control crawling behavior.
3. Server-Side Rendering and Performance
Many JavaScript-based websites rely on client-side rendering, where content is loaded dynamically in the browser. While this approach offers a better user experience, it can be problematic for SEO because search engines may not wait for the JavaScript to execute before crawling the page.
How OhMyCrawl Helps: - Recommends server-side rendering (SSR) or static site generation (SSG) to ensure content is rendered on the server before being sent to the browser. - Optimizes hydration processes to reduce the time it takes for JavaScript to take over after the initial server-rendered page is loaded. - Provides performance optimization tips to reduce load times and improve crawl efficiency.
Comparison of Technical SEO Services: OhMyCrawl vs. Traditional SEO Providers
| Feature | OhMyCrawl | Traditional SEO Providers |
|---|---|---|
| Focus Area | Technical SEO, JavaScript, site architecture | On-page SEO, link building, content optimization |
| Team Expertise | Technical SEO experts with coding experience | General SEO experts with limited technical knowledge |
| Audit Process | Deep technical audit, collaboration with developers | Surface-level audit, checklist-based recommendations |
| Recommendations | Data-driven, test-based, and actionable | Opinion-based, generic recommendations |
| Outcome | Long-term technical SEO improvements | Short-term visibility and keyword ranking improvements |
This comparison highlights the key differences between OhMyCrawl and traditional SEO providers. While both approaches have their place, OhMyCrawl’s technical SEO services are particularly well-suited for developers and companies that want to ensure their websites are optimized at the infrastructure level.
The Role of Testing in OhMyCrawl’s Technical SEO Strategy
Testing is a cornerstone of OhMyCrawl’s approach. Unlike many SEO agencies that rely on generic best practices, OhMyCrawl emphasizes the importance of test-based SEO, where recommendations are validated through real-world data.
Key Testing Methods Used by OhMyCrawl
- A/B Testing: Comparing different rendering strategies or page structures to determine which performs best in search results.
- Crawlability Testing: Using tools to simulate how search engines crawl and index pages, identifying potential issues.
- Performance Testing: Measuring load times and rendering efficiency to ensure that technical SEO improvements don’t come at the cost of user experience.
- Rank Tracking: Monitoring keyword rankings and traffic changes after implementing technical SEO changes.
By using data to validate their recommendations, OhMyCrawl ensures that their strategies deliver measurable results.
How to Get Started with OhMyCrawl Technical SEO
If you’re considering working with OhMyCrawl for technical SEO, here are the steps you can follow:
- Initial Consultation: Schedule a call with OhMyCrawl to discuss your technical SEO needs and goals.
- Website Review: OhMyCrawl will review your website and determine if their services are a good fit for your project.
- Technical Audit: A detailed technical SEO audit is conducted to identify issues and opportunities for improvement.
- Custom Strategy Development: A tailored technical SEO strategy is created based on the audit findings.
- Implementation and Testing: The recommended changes are implemented and tested to ensure they deliver the expected results.
- Ongoing Support: OhMyCrawl offers ongoing support to help you maintain and improve your technical SEO performance over time.
This process is collaborative and often involves close coordination between OhMyCrawl’s team and your developers to ensure that technical SEO improvements are properly integrated into your website.
Key Terminology in Technical SEO
To better understand the work that OhMyCrawl does, it’s important to be familiar with some key terminology in technical SEO:
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Server-Side Rendering (SSR) | A rendering strategy where the server generates the HTML for a page before sending it to the browser. This ensures that search engines can easily crawl and index the content. |
| Client-Side Rendering (CSR) | A rendering strategy where the browser generates the HTML using JavaScript after the page has loaded. This can be problematic for SEO if not implemented correctly. |
| Crawlability | The ability of search engine bots to navigate and access a website’s content. Poor crawlability can lead to incomplete or missing indexing. |
| Indexability | The ability of a page to be included in search engine indexes. A page is indexable if it has the proper HTML structure, metadata, and is accessible to crawlers. |
| Hydration | The process by which JavaScript takes over the rendering of a page after the initial server-rendered HTML has been loaded. This is important for performance and user experience. |
| Structured Data | A standardized format for providing additional information about a page to search engines. This helps search engines understand the content and display rich snippets in search results. |
Understanding these terms is essential for anyone looking to improve their technical SEO. They form the foundation of many of the challenges that OhMyCrawl helps to solve.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About OhMyCrawl Technical SEO
1. What makes OhMyCrawl different from other SEO companies?
OhMyCrawl specializes in technical SEO and has a team that includes developers who understand how modern web technologies work. This allows them to provide more accurate and actionable recommendations compared to traditional SEO companies that may lack technical expertise.
2. Do I need to have a technical background to work with OhMyCrawl?
No, you don’t need to have a technical background to work with OhMyCrawl. However, it helps to have a developer or technical team who can implement the recommended changes. OhMyCrawl works closely with developers to ensure that technical SEO improvements are properly integrated into the website.
3. How long does a technical SEO audit take?
The length of a technical SEO audit depends on the size and complexity of the website. For most projects, OhMyCrawl conducts a comprehensive audit that can take anywhere from a few days to a week. This allows them to thoroughly review the website and identify key areas for improvement.
4. Can technical SEO improve my website’s organic traffic?
Yes, technical SEO can have a significant impact on your website’s organic traffic. By improving crawlability, indexability, and performance, technical SEO helps ensure that your content is properly indexed and ranked in search results. This can lead to increased visibility and more traffic over time.
5. What tools does OhMyCrawl use for technical SEO?
OhMyCrawl uses a variety of tools to conduct technical SEO audits and analyze website performance. These tools include:
- Google Search Console: For monitoring crawl errors, indexing status, and performance metrics.
- Screaming Frog: For crawling and analyzing website structure.
- Lighthouse: For performance and accessibility testing.
- A/B Testing Tools: For validating technical SEO recommendations.
- Custom Scripts: For testing rendering strategies and page performance.
These tools help OhMyCrawl provide detailed and data-driven recommendations for improving technical SEO.
Final Thoughts: Technical SEO as a Strategic Investment
Technical SEO is not just about fixing bugs or optimizing code—it’s about building a website that can be easily discovered, indexed, and ranked by search engines. In today’s digital landscape, where user experience and performance are key drivers of success, technical SEO has become a strategic necessity.
OhMyCrawl offers a unique and technically grounded approach to technical SEO that is well-suited for developers and companies that want to ensure their websites are optimized at the infrastructure level. Their focus on JavaScript, rendering strategies, and test-based SEO sets them apart from traditional SEO providers and makes them a valuable partner for anyone looking to improve their website’s visibility in search results.
By investing in technical SEO, you’re not just improving your website’s search engine rankings—you’re building a more robust, efficient, and user-friendly website that can deliver long-term value for your business.